AU609234B2 - Sustained release drug dosage forms containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and alkali metal carboxylates - Google Patents

Description

l ACCEPTED AND AMENDMENTS V. YLD

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i 1 4 Af w COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952-1969 Name of Applicant(s): Address of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: FOREST LABORATORIES, INC.

150 EAST 58TH STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10155-0015, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

NORMAN G. GAYLORD ASHOK NIGALAYE G.R. CULLEN COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, Dalgety House, 79 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

bS, COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "SUSTAINED RELEASE DRUG DOSAGE FORMS CONTAINING HYDROXYPROPYLMETHYLCELLULOSE AND ALKALI METAL CARBOXYLATES"

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The following statement is a full description invention including the best method of performing it us:of the known to -y SUSTAINED RELEASE DRUG DOSAGE FORMS CONTAINING HDROXPROPYLMET$UYCELLULOSE AND ALKALI METAL CARBOXYLATES BACKGROUND OF TIE-INVENTION invention relates to a carrier base ZR. ~,material that is combined with a therapeutically active medicament arnd formed into a solid, shaped :".:unit dosage form hiaving a controlled and sustained incremental release of the medicament upon administration. The carrier base material of this invention *.*comprises a mixture of a. water-soluble hydroxypropylzethylcellulote arid an alkali metal' carboxylate, which carrier base desirably may be present in an amount less than 30 weight-% of the dosage form thereby permitting the administration of high dosage medic aments.

The administration of a medicament which It requires a high dosage for effective therapy mandates a single, potentially toxic, dose or multiple doses.

Alternatively, controlled and sustained release of a medicament from a solid unit dosage form provides for continuous dosage from a single administration.

-2- However, in order to accommodate a sufficient amount of a high dosage medicament in a solid unit dosage form, without significantly increasing the size of the latter, it is necessary to utilize a carrief base material which is effective, at low concentrations, in retarding the release of the medicament.

Hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses have been widely used as binders, matrices or carrier bases in sustained release solid dosage forms containing active medicaments, accompanied by lubricants and excipients, as needed. commercially available hydroxypropylmethylcellulose is actually a series of compounds, each of which has a different chemical structure and composition, with a methoxyl content within the range of 15 16.5 to 30 weight-% and a hydroxypropoxyl content within the range of 4 to 32 weight-%, and each of which is available in various viscosity grades.

Commercial designations of the various 0. hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses are based on the 20 viscosities of 2% aqueous solutions at 20 0 C. The viscosities range from 5 to 100,000 cps (mPa'sec) and represent number average molecular weights ranging from below 10,000 to over 150,000, as calculated 9 "from the data in "Handbook of Methocel Cellulose Ether Products" (The Dow Chemical Co., 1974).

Christenson and Dale Pat. 3,065,143) and Huber, Dale and Christenson Pharm. Sci., 55,. 974 (1966)) disclosed the preparation of a sustained release drug tablet wherein a high viscosity 30 grade, i.e. high molecular weight, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, was present as binder to the extent of at least one third of the weight of the tablet. The binders included a 4000 mPa-sec viscosity grade hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, now known as Methocel E4M, having a 28-30 weight-% methoxyl content, a 7.5-12 weight-X hydroxypropoxyl content and a number average molecular weight of 93,000, as well as 4000 and 15,000

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mpa'uec viscosity grades hydroxypropylmethylcellulones, now known an Methocel M4M and K15J4, reipectively, having a 19-24 weight-% methoxyl content, a 4-12 weight-% hydroxypropoxyl content and number average molecular weights of 89, 000 and 124, 000, reepactively.

Christenson and his coworkers proposed that water warn rapidly absorbed and formed a gel barrier on the surface of the tablet. Drug release was controlled by drug diffusion from and attrition of the gel barrier.

Christenson and Huber Pat. 3,590,117) reported that neither low nor high viscosity grade hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses made acceptable longlasting troches, Lapidus (Dissertation, Rutgers State University, 1967) and Lrpidus and Lordi Pharm.

Sci., 55, 840 (1966); S7, 1292 (1968)) reported on the use cof 25 and 15,090 mP&-sec viscosity grades hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses having a 19-24 weight-% methoxyl content and 4-12 weight-% hydroxypropoxyl content, Methocel K25 and 1(1514, respectively, in compressed pharmaceutical tablets.

Salomon. Doelker and Buri (Pharm. Acta 2S Helv., 54 82 (1979)) disclosed the need for more than 30 weight-% of a 15,000 mPa-sec viscosity grade hydroxypropylmethylcelluiose with 19-24 weight-% methoxyl content and 4-12 weight-% hydroxypropoxyl conent(Mehocl K5M)in a tablet containing potassium. chloride, in order to sustain the release of drug for more than a few hours.I Sheth and Tossounian Pats. 4,126,672; 4,140,755; 4,167,558) disclosed solid dosage formi containing 20-75% of a hydrocolloid such as 4000 3S mPa-sec visosiity grade hydroxypropylmethylellulose in combination with various additives including gasgenerating compounds, e.g. calcium carbonate, and 4- inert fatty materials, resulting in a hydrodynamically balanced product having a bulk density of less than one when it is in contact with gastric fluid and hence floating on anrd releasing medicament therein.

Schor, Nigalaye and Gaylord Pat.

4,389,393) disclosed sustained release solid unit dosage forms in which the carrier base material constituted less than one third of the weight of the dosage form and consisted of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose of at least 4000 mPa-sec viscosity grade, representing a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, and having a methoxyl content of 16-24 weight-% and a hydroxypropoxyl content of 4-32 weight-%, Methocel J and Methocel K.

15 The use of high viscosity grades of hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses, Methocel E, F and K, in sustained release solid drug dosage forms is also described in a technical bulletin "Formulating r e Sustained Release Pharmaceutical Products with 20 Methocel" (The Dow Chemical Co., 1982).

The prior art cited hereinabove discloses that high viscosity grades of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose of various chemical compositions are useful in the preparation of sustained release solid drug dosage forms. In contrast, Schor, Nigalaye and Gaylord Pat. 4,369,172) disclosed that sustained release therapeutic compositions could be prepared by.using as a carrier base material, a low viscosity 't 3' grade hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a hydroxypropoxyl content of 9-12 weight-% and a number average molecular weight of less than 50,000.

Lowey and Stafford Pat. 3,870,790) and Schor Pat. 4,226,849) disclosed that effective sustained release tablets were produced by using as carrier base material, a modified low viscosity grade hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a hydroxypropoxyl content of less than 9 weight-% and a number average molecular weight of 23,000, e.g., Methocel E50. The modification was carried out by exposure of the low molecular weight hydroxypropylmethylcellulose to high humidity or moisture and drying in air, resulting in an increase in the carboxyl content of the polymer.

Davis and Gaylord Pat. 4,540,566) and Daly, Davis and Kennerley (International J.

Pharmaceutics, 18, 201 (1984)) disclosed that the presence of an alkali metal sulfate or sulfonate prolonged the release pattern of a medicament from a tablet containing the modified low viscosity grade hydroxypropylmethylcellulose as carrier base material.

Lowey Pat. 4,259,314) disclosed the S* use of a mixture of dried hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 15 having a viscosity in the range of 50 to 4000 mPa.sec, and hydroxypropylcellulose in the preparation of a controlled release pharmaceutical composition.

o. The present invention relates to further improvements in carrier base materials containing high molecular weight hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and high dosage prolonged release solid pharmaceutical unit dosage forms containing such improved carrier base materials. These improvements result from the presence of an alkali metal carboxylate in the carrier 25 base material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a therapeutically active solid unit dosage form having a controlled and prolonged release pattern comprising a carrier base material in combination with a therapeutically active medicament. The composition of the invention may be administered orally, buccally, sublingually, etc., in the form of lozenges and tablets, as well as suppositories and other solid unit dosage forms.

t i i i 1 a Another object of the present invention is to provide a sustained release therapeutically active solid unit dosage form having improved sustained release characteristics.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved carrier base material for use in high dosage solid pharmaceutical unit dosage forms.

Yet other objects of the present invention are to provide methods for making such therapeutically active solid unit dosage forms and carrier bases for such dosage forms.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a therapeutically active solid unit 15 dosage form having a controlled and sustained release pattern upon administration comprising a mixture of a therepeutically active medicament and a carrier base material comprising one or more water-soluble nonionic cellulose ethers, wherein at least one of the cellulose ethers is a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least o. 50,000, and an alkali metal carboxylate, wherein the carrier base comprises less than 30 weight-% of the total weight of the dosage form.

25 In a second embodiment, the therapeutically active solid unit dosage form of the invention comprises a mixture of a therapeutically active medicament and a carrier base material that consists essentially of one or more water-soluble nonionic cellulose ethers, wherein at least one of the cellulose ethers is a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, and an alkali metal carboxylate.

Preferably, the ratio of cellulose ether to alkali metal carboxylate in the carrier base ranges from 1/0.05 to 1/3. The hydroxypropylmethylcellulose content of the composition preferably constitutes -7from 3 to 25 weight-% of the dosage form, with the therapeutically active medicamnent pre ferably constituting at least 70 weight-% of the dosage form.

Particularly preferred hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose materials for use in the carrier base are materials that have a methoxyl. content of 28-30 weight-% and a hydroxypropoxyl content of 7.5-12 weight-%, and'(b) have a methoxy. content of 19-24 weight-% and a hydroxypropoxyl content of 4-12 weight-%.

The alkali metal carboxylate that is used in the composition preferably is a salt of a C 8 to C 40 carboxylic acid. Most preferably, sodium stearate or sodium laurate is used.

The carrier base materi.als and therapeutically active medicament may be homogeneously mixed together

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9 by any suitable mixing technique. To obtain a solid unit dosage form, suitable quantities of the ingredients are mixed, shaped and compressed under conditions to yield a solid unit dosage form having the desired size and sustained release characteristics.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, it has *now been found that important advantages and improvements over prior art products containing water-soluble nonionic cellulose ethers, particularly high molecular ft weight hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses, as carrier 4 L" base materials, can be obtained by admixture of the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose with an alkali metal carkboxylate.

The hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses that are effective in the present invention include, but aro not limited to, commercially available high viscosity grades, high molecular weight hydxoxypropylmethylrelluloses. These include all grades having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, independent of chemical structure. Thus, hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses having the following methoxyl and hydroxypropoxyl contents are effective when the viscosity grade is at least about 500 mPa-sec: Methoxyl Hydroxypropoxyl content content Nethocel weight-% weight-% E 28-30 7.5-12 F 27-30 4.0-7.5 J16.5-20 23-32 K 19-24 4-12 The use of low concentrations of high viscosity 2grades of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose as the carrier base mraterial in a solid unit dosage form has 7,leen 15 disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,389,393. It has now surprisingly been found that the precoence of an alkali metal carboxylate results in an even more prolonged and sustained release time than is obtainable with the use of the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose at the same concentration in the dosage form in the absence C Ot Ctof the alkali metal carboxylate. This permits the preparation of unit dosage forms having a higher concentration of active medicament, while at the same time maintaining the desired prolonged and 25 sustained release characteristics.

(ta.it tit( The alkali metal carboxylates that are' effective in the present invention include alkali metal $Alto of C 8 to C 0 carboxylic acids. The acids may have a branched or straight hydrocarbon chain structure, may contain alicyclic and/or aromatic moieties and-may be caturated or unsaturated.

Representative alkali metal carboxylates include sodium caprylate, sodium pelargonate, sodium laurate, potassium palmitate, sodium atearats, sodium arachidate, sodium behenate, potassium lignocerate, sodium oleate, potassium oleate, sodium ricinoleate, sodium linoleate and the like.

The weight ratio of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose to alkali metal carboxylate in the solid'dosage forms desirably is from 1/0.05 to 1/3 and their combined weight preferably is no more than 30 weight-% of the total weight of the solid dosage form. The solid dosage forms may desirably contain from 3 to weight-% of the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.

Preferably, the therapeutically active medicament comprises at least 70 weight-% of the total weight of the dosage form.

Although the exact nature of the interaction between the alkali metal carboxylate and the hydroxy- 15 propylmethylcellulose is not known and we do not wish to be bound to any theory, it is believed that the admixture of those two components results in an ion-dipole interaction. When the solid unit dosage .form is placed in an aqueous medium, the hydrocarbon 20 moiety in the bonded alkali metal carboxylate promotes hydrophobic bonding between hydroxypropylmethylcellulose chains, thus retarding the release of medicament incorporated therein to an even greater extent than from the swollen hydroxypropylmethylcellulose alone.

25 The hydroxypropylmethylcellulose of the present invention may be used with or without prior humidification or similar treatment and when mixed with the alkali metal carboxylate and an active met dicament, the mixture has excellent compressibility.

The tablets prepared therefrom are hard and dense, have low friability and provide controlled and sustained release over an extended period. Solid drug forms of the present invention are stable and their release rate does not change to any significant (if any) extent over an extended period of storage.

A hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000 may be used an the sole cellulose ether, in admixture with an alkali metal carboxylate, in the carrier base material or may be used in admixture with other noni.onic cellulose ethers. Preferably, the hydioxypropylmethylcellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000 constitutes at leat 3 weight-% of the total weight of the solid dosage form.

The active ingredient can be of any type of medication which acts locally in the mouth or systemically. Unit dosage forms that contain a systemic medicament can be administered orally to transmit the active medicament into the gastrointestinal tract and into the blood, fluids and tissues of the body without excessive peak concentrations occurring. Alternatively, the active medicament can be of any type of medication which V *..acts through the buccal tissues of the mouth to 4-i 4transmit the active ingredient directly into the blood stream, thus avoiding first pass liver metabolism and bypassing the gastric and intestinal 4 fluids which have an adverse inactivating or destructive action on many active ingredients unless they are especially protected against such fluids 25 by means of an enteric coating or the like).

The active medicament can also be of a type of medication which can be transmitted into the blood* £circulation through the rectal tissues. Thus, the invention is applicable to sublingual lozenges, buccal tablets, suppositories and compressed tablets.

The latter are intended to be swallowed in unit dosage form and upon ingestion according to a prescribed regimen give controlled and slow release of the active medicament, while being protected against inactivating gastric fluid.

Representative active medicaments include antacids, antiinflamatory substances, coronary vasodilators, cerebral vasodilators, peripheral vasedilators, ant3.infectives, psychotropics, antimanics, stimulants, antihistamines, laxatives, decongestants, vitamins, gastrointestinal sedatives, antidiarrheal preparations, antianginal drugs, antiarrythmics, antihypertensive drugs, vasoconstrictors arnd migraine treatments, anticoagulants and antithrombotic drugs, wnalgesics, anitipyretics, hypnotics, sedatives, antiemetics, antinauseants, anticoavulsants, neuromuscular drugs, hyper and hypoglycemic agents,.thyroid and antithyroid preparations, diuretics, antispasmodics, uteri.ne relaxants, mineral and nutritional additives, antiobesity drugs, anabolic drugs, erythropoietic drugs, antiasthmatics, expectorants, cough suppressants, mucolytics, antiuricemic drugs, and other drugs orsubstances acting locally in the mouth, such as topical analgesics, local araesthetico, etc.

The mixture of alkali metal carboxylate and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, forms what is called a long-acting, slow dissolving carrier of such a nature that it has a protective, demulcent arnd buffering effect in the body and causes the active medicament to exert its optimum therapeutic action immediately and incrementally for an extended period of time, so that full therapeutic advantage car. be taken of the entire or substantially the entire amount tit 47',of -active medicament administered. This unexpectedly high degree of efficiency is a particular advantage of the invention and minimizes the side effects of the medication.

in preparing tablets containing an orally administrable systemically absorbable active component suc.,, as one of the heretofore mentioned medicaments, the hydroxypropylmethylcelluloee and the alkali metal carboxylate are thoroughly intermixed with the medic&ment, which in in powdered or granular form or in -12solution, and any other needed ingredients which are conventional in tablet making such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid, lactose, starch, fumed silica, hydrogenated vegetable oil and, in general, binders, fillers, disintegrating agents and the like. The hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and the alkali metal carboxylate may be mixed in water, alcohol or other media known in the art, and dried to produce granules before intermixing with the medicament and other ingredients. Alternatively, the medicament may be granulated with the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and the alkali metal carboxylate before intermixing with the other ingredients.

The complete mixture, in an amount sufficient to make a uniform batch of tablets, e.g. 50,000, of which each contains an effective amount of active medicament, is then subjected to tabletting in conventional tabletting machines at compression pressures of 135 x 105 to 1100 x 105 Pa and, because of the use of the specific carrier material of this invention in the production of the tablets, a product is obtained which has the desired hardness, low level of friability and a predetermined controlled and sustained action and a regular delayed release pattern so that the medicament is available over a period of 0.25-36 hours, depending upon the precise tablet size, hardness and the particular carrier composition. In this way, it is possible to produce controlled and slow continuous release tablets in a relatively simple and economical manner on a commercial scale, in contrast with more elaborate and more complex materials and procedures heretofore employed or proposed.

The moisture content of the carrier used in the preparation of the controlled release tablets may be in the 0.1-10% range, the lower end of the range being preferable when moisture sensitive medicaments are used. If the moisture content is outside S-13of this range, it may be brought within the range by the use of ambient or hot, dry or wet air, using appropriate equipment including static, convection, forced air or vacuum chambers or other equipment well known to those skilled in the art. The moisture content of the carrier durcing tabletting influences the integrity of the tablet obtained under a given compression pressure. However, the moisture content has less influence on the controlled release characteristics than the composition of the carrier and its concentration.

The release pattern of active medicament from the carrier of the present invention can be controlled according to the particular medication and its intended therapeutic effect. For a sub- Slingual lozenge or tablet, the release pattern may be varied from 0.25 to 4 hours. For buccal tablets, the release period may be 0.25 to 24 hours. For orally administered tablets, the release time may be 2-4 hours, 4-8 hours, 8-10 hours, 15-18 hours, 20-24 hours, etc., as desired. For vaginal and rectal suppositories, the release pattern ranges from 2 to 36 hours and can be more or less where indicated. Predetermined release patterns of unusu- 25 ally reliable characteristics can be secured. The invention is of very versatile and adaptable nature, giving it a wide range of application and end use.

The following il-lustrative embodiments of ;r the disclosures of the present invention are nonlimiting and variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

EXAMPLES 1-2 Controlled release theophylline tablets were prepared from granular, anhydrous theophylline and 4000 mPa.see viscosity grade hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) having 19-24 weight-% methoxyl -content,

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-14- 4-12 weight-% hydroxypropoxyl content and a number average molecular weight of 89,000, commercially available as Methocel M4M. The tablets were prepared in the absence and in the presence of sodium otharate.

The 306 mg theophylline tablets were prepared from the following ingredients: ?iI SIi e I 1 ft St it C C I I Itt t 1

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Its I 4

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Example NtO.

mg/ mg/ Ingredients tablet tablet 1. Theophylline, anhydrous 306 306 2. !H4PC K4M 36 36 3. Sodium stearate 0 36 4. Fumed silica 1.5 Stearic acid 3.5 Ingredients 1 and 2 were mixed, ingredient 3 was added to the blend and, after mixing, was followed by ingredients 4 and 5. The mixture was blended for 20 minutes anid then subjected to compression in a 25 Parr pellet press using a 9.525 mm die. The hardness of the tablets was determined on a Pennwalt Stokes hardness tester.

The release rates were determined at pH 1.5. using the rotating basket dissolution apparatus described in U.S. Pharmacopeia, volume XX, page 959. The basket was rotated at a speed of 100 rpm and the aqueous medium wac maintained at 37 0 C. The results are tabulated below: -is- Example No.

1 2sodium stearate Absent Present Weight, mig 347 303 Thickness, mm 4.00 4.00 Hardness, kg 4.0 Release rate Cumulative Cumulative Hour%%%% 1 50.0 50.0 27.0 27.0 2 12.1 62.1 9.6 36.6 3 12.9 75.0 11.5 48.1 4 9.7 84.7 7.0 55.1 5 s.6 93.3 6.9 62.0 6 8.6 101.9 6.4 66.4 7 5.8 74.2 't t t t tr ISg t t 4 t I 4. 'it 4, 4 I 4. t 4 ii 4 4i I. i 4 4 ii I ii It I 4 it it 4 4t 44 4 it 4 I 11s4 t i t.

The release rates were pH 7.0 using the rotating paddle also determined at dissolution apparatus described in the U.S. Pharmnacopeia, volume XX, page 25 959. The paddle was rotated at a speed of 50 rpm and the aqueous medium was maintained at 37 0 with the following results: Example No.

1 2 Sodium stearate Asn rsn Release rate Hour Cumulative Cumulative 33.2 14.1 10.3 8.1 6.7 5.1 4.3 2.8 2.2 1.3 0.9 0.3 0.3 0.4 33.2 47.3 57.6 65.7 72.4 77.5 81.8 84.6 86.8 88.1 89.0 89.3 89.6 90.0 15.4 7.9 6.2 4.6 4.0 3.7 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.1 5.4 5.0 4.4 4.0 15.4- 23.3 29.5 34.1 38.1 41.8 45.1 48.3 51.5 54.6 60.0 65.0 69.4 73.4 it J1 t SI t 4 4 9

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*4, 4 4 4* 4,« 4* 44 441 4 ft *4 4.* 9 *4* *444 4 t t t C EXAMPLES 3-4 Controlled release theophylline tablets were prepared from anhydrous theophylline and 4000 mPa-sec viscosity grade hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) having 28-30 weight-% methoxyl content, 7.5-12 weight-% hydroxypropoxyl content and a number average molecular 25 weight of 93,000, commercially available as Methocel E4M. The tablets were prepared in the absence and in the presence of sodium laurate.

The 306 mg theophylline tablets Were prepared from the following ingredients: Example No.

3 4 g

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4.

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-17mg/ mg/ tablet tablet Ingredients r 8 tt, I t 4 k I I 8 18., CC 14 1 8 .*I 4 8 84 88 8~8 18 8 88 8 4 81 C 8 8 88 4 88 8 8 4 44 *i 8 8 88 48 8 8£ Liii 8 4 tilt 1. Theophylline, anhydrous 306 306 2. HPMC E4M 36 36 3. Sodium laurate 0 36 4. Fumed silica 1.5 stearic acid 3.5 The ingredients were mixed in the same manner as in Examples 1-2 and compressed in a pellet press using a 9.525 mm die.

The release rates were determined at pH at 37°C using the rotating basket method at 100 rpm.

15 The 306 mg theophylline tablets had the following properties: Example No.

20 3 4 Sodium laurate Absent Present Weight, mg 347 383 Thickness, mm 3.80 4.50 25 Hardness, kg 4.0 Release rate Cumulative Cumulative Hour X 32.3 14.8 14.3 15.3 11.6 32.3 47.1 61.4 77.7 89.3 29.4 12.1 9.5 11.3 9.1 29.4 41.5 51.0 62.3 71.4 -is 6 .7 2.2 3.9 91.5 95.4 *8.3 8.0 7g.7 87.7 4 t tA~ *4

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A

4*

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4* 9 4I 1 4, B I *9 *4 68 I I 84 Pb *4 £444,, 8 11£ 4 4 t ,*td t It t C The release rates were also determ~ined at PH 7.0 at 370C using the rotating paddle method at rpm., with the following results: Exampe No.

o3 4 Sodium laurate Absent Present Release rate Cumulative Cumulative .5 Hour%% 1 33.5 33.5 24.6 24.6 2 14.2 47.7 11.0 35.6 3 10.5 58.2 7.9 43.5 0 4 8.1 66.3 7.2 50.7 5 7.6 73.9 7.0 57.7 6 6.8 80.7 7.6 65.3 7 6.0 86.7 7.5 72.8 a 4.9 91.6 7.2 80.0 59 3.8 95.4 6.4 86.4 10 2.4 97.8 5.1 91.5 12 0.9 99.7 6.6 98.1 14 0.7 100.4 3.3 101.4 0 EXAMPLE Controlled release theophylline tablets were prepared from anhydrous theophylline and the 4000 mfa-sec viscosity grade HPMC (Nethocel E4M) -19used in Examples 3-4, in the presence of sodium stearate.

The 306 mg theophylline tablets were prepared from the following ingredients% Ingredients rag/tablet

C

r r t t t I 4.1[ t t t t I Itt I 1. Theophylline, anhydrous 306 2. HPMC E4M 36 3. sodium stearate 36 4. Fumed silica Stearic acid The ingredients were mixed as described in Example 4 and tablets were prepared using a 9.525 mm die. The hardness and release rates of the 306 mg theophylline tablets were determined as described in the previous examples to give the following results: 20 Weight, mg 383 Thickness, mm 4.30 Hardness, kg 4 C

V

4.14.4.

It V I C V

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Release rate Method pH Basket 1.5 Paddle Cumulative cumulative Hour 23.5 12.1 8.9 11.1 9.1 23.5 35.6 44.5 55.6 66.4 75.5 84.4 14.9 10.0 7.3 5.9 5.0 4.2 3.9 3.8 3.4 3.3 5.4 4.4 14.9.

24.9 32.2 38.1 43.1 47.3 51.2 55.0 58.4 61.7 67.2 72.,6 77.0 81.0 r C l C C EXAM4PLES 6-7 Controlled release theophylline tablets were prepared from anhydrous theophylline and 15,000 mPa-sec viscosity grade HPMC having 19-24 weight-% methoxyl content, 4-12 weight-% hydroxypropoxyl content and a number average molecular weight of 124,000, commercially available as Methocel The tablets were prepared in the presence and in the absence of sodium laurate.

The 306 Mg theophylline tablets were prepared from the following ingredients: -21- Example No.

6 7 Ingredients mg/tablet mg/tablet 1. Theophylline, 306 306 anhydrous 2. HPMC K15M 18 18 3. Sodium laurate 0 36 4. Fumad silica 1.5 Stearic acid 3.5 a a a 4- a Cc C'

CC

C C

CI

C CL The ingredients were Examples 1-2 and compressed in a 9.525 mm die.

mixed as described in a pellet press using

-C

C C

C

C C C C The release rates wcre determined at pH at 37 0 C using the rotating basket method at 100 rpm.

The 306 mg theophylline tablets had the following properties; Example No.

25 6 7 Sodium laurate Absent Present Weight, mg 329 365 Thickness, mm 3.70 4.30 Hardness, kg 4.0 Release rate Cumulative Cumulative Hour. 1 48.2 48.2 28.2 28.2

AL.

M22- 20.7 10.6 15.7 3.1 68.9 79.5 95.2 98.3 13.7 12.6 9.9 6.3 5.8 7.6 41.9 54.5 64.4.

70.7 76.3 84.1 4. 4' (7 4'.4' 4' C 4' 4'

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4' 4' 4' 4 C 4' 4' 4' 44' .4 4 I 44'.

p4 4' 4 44 4.

44' 444' 4' 4' 4' 4.44' 4' 4 L.4'~ 4.4' 4' 4' 4' 4.4 EXAMPLES 8-9 Controlled release ibuprofen tablets were prepared from ibuprofen and the 4000 mPa* sec viscosity grade HPMC (Methocel K4M) used in Examples 1-2. The tablets were prepared in the absence and in the presence of sodium stearate.

The 700 mig ibuprofen tablets were prepared 15 from the following ingredients: ExampLe No.

Ingredients mg/tablet mg/tablet 1. Ibuprofen 700 700 2. HPMC K4M 90 25 3. sodium stearate 0 15.6 4. Hydrogenated vegetable 15 15.3 oil 5. Fumed silica 6.5 The ingredients were mixed as described in Examples 1-2 and compressed in a pellet press using a 9.525 mm die.

The release rates were determined at pH 7.2 at 370C using the rotating basket method at 100 rpm.

3S The 700 mg ibuprofen tablets had the following properties: it A ii p -23a A A '.4 4 4 I*44 4 0 a 4 f 04 4~4~ 04 I, 4 44 04 4.D 44 4 44 4* a 4 EXaMple No.

8 9 Sodium atearate Absent Present Weight, mg 812 827 Thickness, mm 6.0 6.1 iardness, kg 9.0 Release rate Cumulative cumulative Hour%%% 1 60.9 60.9 29.0 29.0 15 2 11.8 72.7 6.4 35.4 3 8.3 81.0 5.6 41.0 4 5.0 86.0 4.9 45.9 5 3.2 89.2 4.3 50.2 6 3.0 92.2 4.5 54.7 7 1.5 93.7 4.2 58.9 8 1.3 95.0 1.6 60.7 9 0.7 95.7 3.3 64.0 10 0.3 3.5 67.5 25 EXAMPLES 10-11 Controlled release aspirin tablets were prepared from U.S.P. asprin and the 4000 mPa-sec viscosity grade HWMC (Methocel K4M) used in Examples 1-2. The tablets were prepared in the absence and in the'presenace of sodium stearate.

The 550 mg aspirin tablets were prepared from the following ingredientst.

1A44

A

A

1-24- C I: Example NO., 1 Ingredients mg/tablet mg/tablet 1. Aspirin 650 650' 2. HPMC M4M 65 3. Sodium stearate 0 4. Hydrogenated vegetable 7 7 oil Fumed silica 0.5 1s The ingredients were mixed as described in Examples 1-2. The mixture was subjected to compression in a tabletirig machine having a 7.13 x 15.88 mm punch under a compression pressure of 27.45 I'Wa to make 1000 capsule-shaped ta,.3lets bisected on one side.

The release rates were determined at a pH 4.5 at 370C using the rotating paddle method at 100 rpm., with the following results: 25 Example No.

1 Sodium stearate Absent Present Weight, mg 722 750 Thickness, mm 6.35 6.60 Release rate Cumulative Cumulative our%%% 4; f L t t C t 15.7 21.8 2 23.6 39.3 12.2 34.0 3 19.6 58.9 11.5 45.5 4 16.4 75.3 10.4 55.91 s 4.7 88.0 8.3 64.2 56 9.7 97.7 9.2 73.4 7 8.0 81.4 a 6.6 88.0

Claims (14)

1. A therapeutically active solid unit dosage form having a controlled and sustained release pattern upon administration comprising a mixture of a therapeutically active medicament and a carrier base material comprising one or more water-soluble nonicnic cellulose ethers, wherein at least one of the cellulose ethers is a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, and an alkali metal carboxylate, wherein the carrier base comprises less than 30 weight-% of the total weight of the dosage form.

2. The composition of claim 1 where the carrier base material contains hydroxypropylmethyl- cellulose and alkali metal carboxylate in a weight ratio of 1/0.05 to 1/3. r K3. The composition of claim I where the alkali metal carboxylate is the salt of a C 8 to C 40 carboxylic acid.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the alkali metal carboxylate is sodium stearate or sodium laurate. The composition of claim 2 wherein the hydroxypropylmethyleellulose comprises 3 to weight-% of the total weight of the dosage form.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein. the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a methoxyl content of 28-30 weight-% and a hydroxypropoxyl content of 7.S-12 weight-%.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose ha5 a methoxyl w.27-. content of 19-24 weight-% and a hydroxypropoxyl content of 4412 weight-%.

8. A therapeutically active solid unit dosage form having a cor. -olled and sustained release pattern upon administration comprising a mixture of a therapeutically active medicament and a carrier base material that consists essentially of one or more water-soluble nonionic cellulose ethers, wherein at least one of the cellulose ethers is a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, and an alkali 4 metal carboxylate. I 99 The composition of claim 8 where the carrier base material contains hydroxypropylmethyl- cellulose and alkali metal carboxylate in a weight V ratio of 1/0.05 to 1/3. The composition of claim 8 where the alkali metal carboxylate is the salt of a CS to C 40 carboxylic acid.

11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the alkali metal carboxylate is sodium stearate or IL sodium laurate.

12. The composition of claim 8 wherein the .111, ithydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a methoxyl content of 28-30 weight-% and a hydroxypropoxyl content of 7.5-12 weight-%.

13. The composition of claim wherein the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a nmethoxyl content of 19-24 weight-% and a hydroxypropoxyl content of 4-12 weight-%. 'r cc~: -28-

14. The composition of claim 9 wherein the hydroxyn-opylmethylcellulose comprises 3 to weight-% of the total weight of the dosage form. A method for the preparation of a therapeutically active unit dosage form having a controlled and sustained release pattern upon administration comprising mixing, shaping and com- pressing a therapeutically active medicament and a carrier base material consisting essentially of a mixture of an alkali metal carboxylate, and one or more water-soluble nonionic cellulose ethers, at least one of which is hydroxypropylmethyl- cellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose constitutes 3 to weight-% of the total weight of the dosage form and the weight ratio of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose to alkali metal carboxylate is in the range of 1/0.05 to 1/3.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the alkali metal carboxylate is the salt of a C 8 to C 40 carboxylic acid. C t

18. A method for the preparation of a therapeutically active unit dosage form having a controlled and sustained release pattern upon administration comprising mixing, shaping and com- pressing a therapeutically active medicament and a carrier base material comprising an alkali metal carboxylate, and one or more water-soluble nonionic cellulose ethers, at least one of which is hydroxy- propylmethylcellulose having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, wherein the carrier base Comprises loe than 30 weight-% of the total weight of the dosage form.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose consti.tutes 3 to weight-% of the total weight of the dosage form and the weight ratio of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose to alkali metal carboxylate is in the range of 1/0.05 to 1/3. Any novel featurcp or novel coembinatin- ef features diselescd herein with reference to te Examples. DATED this 20th day of December, 1988. FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. By their Patent Attorneys G.R. CULLEN CO.